The Daily Struggles of Power Outages, Water Shortages

Dec 14 , 2024
By Eden Sahle

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Addis Abeba was eerily silent over the past weekend, shrouded in darkness. The blackout jolted the nation’s capital, sparking shock among some residents. For those of us living in the Satcom housing area in Figa, however, such disruptions are an all-too-familiar reality, with power outages often lasting several days, sometimes stretching up to ten days in a row.

Adjusting to life without reliable electricity has been a mental and physical problem, not just for my family but for the entire community. Simple tasks have become complex, and the absence of light raises safety concerns, transforming our collective frustration into a daily struggle.

This persistent issue has disrupted every aspect of life, creating ripple effects far beyond the inconvenience of living without electricity. It tests our limits of creativity as we find ways to cope with the crisis, which began a year ago.

Power outages have disrupted essential activities, from food storage and bathing to washing clothes, cooking, and charging vehicles. Refrigerators, once a staple of convenience, have become a liability, with food spoiling quickly in the absence of electricity, leading to waste.

Cooking has turned into a daily struggle, especially for households reliant on electric stoves and ovens. Families have had to explore alternative cooking methods, including cylinder gas, charcoal, and even firewood, to prepare meals during extended outages.

For electric vehicle owners, the difficulties are compounded. Vehicles remain parked with empty batteries, risking long-term battery damage. As a result, many are forced to depend on unreliable or  expensive public transportation services.

Some of our neighbors have turned to solar power, viewing it as a necessary investment rather than a luxury. While solar panels remain out of reach for many due to their cost, those who can afford them see them as a lifeline. For these households, solar power provides a sense of autonomy from an unreliable grid.

Solar panels now power essential devices like refrigerators, lights, and electric stoves.

For families like ours with young children, darkness causes troubles. Evenings are spent under the dim glow of candles or battery-powered lights, which inevitably run out. Students face the frustration of trying to study by candlelight or flashlights.

Some families, worn down by these persistent problems, have chosen to leave their homes and offer them to unsuspecting tenants. They have moved to apartments where uninterrupted electricity and water supply provide refuge from the struggles we endure in our neighborhood.

The impact goes beyond electricity. Regular outages also disrupt the water supply, as electricity is required to pump water into rooftop storage tanks. In our neighborhood, water is delivered just once a week. Without the ability to store it, the crisis intensifies.

Residents must ration water carefully, prioritizing essential needs like cooking and cleaning. Bathing, laundry, and other daily activities are often postponed. Some neighbors have resorted to signing up for gym memberships just to take showers, as the water supply at home is not only unreliable but storage tanks remain empty due to the lack of electricity.

Having grown up in the Bole area, I have seen firsthand the difference in living conditions. In Bole, where I lived with my father until I got married two years ago, utility outages are rare, allowing for a sense of normalcy. On the other hand, Figa feels like a different world.

The consequences of unreliable electricity ripple far beyond households, affecting businesses and the broader economy. Many businesses are forced to close during outages, losing income and customers. Meanwhile, hospitals and clinics must rely on costly generators to sustain critical operations.

Even Ethiopia’s push for industrialization could be hampered by persistent power shortages. Factories experience frequent downtime, disrupting production schedules and reducing output. The potential to attract foreign investment may also diminish, as businesses seek stable environments for their operations.

On the surface, Ethiopians enjoy some of the lowest utility prices in the world. Compared to developed countries, where utility bills consume a large portion of household income, Ethiopia’s rates appear affordable. However, this affordability comes with a cost: unreliable and inconsistent supply.

During my stay in European countries, I observed individuals taking measures to save on utility costs, opting for cold showers and limiting home heating during winter to reduce expenses. In Ethiopia, however, the issue is not about saving money; it is about access itself. Cheap utilities offer little value when they cannot be consistently delivered.

Ethiopia’s power crisis stems from several factors, including aging infrastructure, limited capacity, and a failure to meet rising demand. The country’s heavy reliance on hydropower makes it especially vulnerable to climate variability. During droughts, reduced water levels at dams strain an already overburdened system.

Rapid urbanization and population growth have further outpaced infrastructure development. In Addis Abeba, the growing population has placed immense pressure on the city’s power grid. The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU) has struggled to keep up, resulting in frequent outages in neighborhoods like Figa.

Efforts to expand capacity, such as the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), offer hope. However, these solutions remain years away from delivering tangible relief to the public.

The country must diversify its energy strategy by investing in renewable energy sources. While hydropower remains the cornerstone of the country’s energy policy, incorporating wind, solar, and geothermal energy could provide resilience against climate-related disruptions and improve access.

Beyond investing in infrastructure, there must be greater accountability in the energy sector.

Reliable electricity and water are not mere conveniences; they are fundamental needs. By diversifying energy sources and improving infrastructure, the country can work toward a future where electricity and water are no longer luxuries but guaranteed necessities.

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PUBLISHED ON Dec 14,2024 [ VOL 25 , NO 1285]

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